Heart of a Coach
March 2010
Joanne Boyle
University of California-Berkeley
Women’s Basketball Coach
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Selected Struggle: Striving
Dictionary definition: “To struggle vigorously.”
My definition: “To be consumed by angst. To not give everything to God and to worry constantly, feeling like the more you do, the more you are going to get done and achieve.”
Favorite Scripture that deals with striving: Philippians 4:6-7 – “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
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“ I constantly struggle with thinking that there is more we can do as a team or more I can do as a coach…I have to surrender that desire to God.” |
Why I chose this verse: “This verse speaks volumes to me, specifically about coaching. It says not to be anxious about anything. That means everything from the biggest things in life to the smallest. It also says that we are to thank God even when we are going through struggles, and I think that is important. All of our challenges are learning opportunities. We are just supposed to hand over our requests, surrender them to Him and receive His peace.”
How striving affects me as a coach: “I constantly struggle with thinking that there is more we can do as a team or more I can do as a coach. There is always more film to watch, more practice and drills we could do. I have to surrender that desire to God.
“For me, I have to understand how much I can push my team to rise to the level I think they can achieve. I also have to realize the times when I must surrender my desire to make our team the best when something is out of my control. My players know I have their backs, and I talk to them openly about my faith and my weaknesses and how I rely on God. They know that I am always there for them, and I have peace with where we are as a team.”
How I handle striving in life: “It is a work in progress to surrender things in my life to Christ, and I understand that it is important to have balance. Outside of basketball, there are things that are just as important, if not more so. Finding that balance—making time for those things and for basketball—is a daily struggle, but it is something I continually take to God and use to grow closer to Him.” 
